The best reason to go to work
Raul Gonzo asked me to lighting direct a music video for a local band. I have found that Raul is very discerning when it comes to pro bono projects. Yes I said pro bono. So we shot for 5 long days and got pizza and tacos for pay. Why would a couple mid career pros work like madmen for not a single penny?
Have to say that their music is good, very good. So when they go platinum they will come back to us to do all of their videos in return? Unlikely. If and when a band takes off their management and the labels will wrap them up with their own resources and we will not see them again except for on MTV. That’s the way it is and that’s fine.
It is important to keep one’s eye on the ball. At Monkey&Snake we all wear many hats. One day I am a director, the next a producer and lighting grip, then a photographer. Back in the office I am an account executive and strategist. Ariel wears as many hats. We wear so many hats because we are good at it but most importantly we really enjoy it. We are agile, quick to react and never ever bored.
Working on the video was as much for us as it was for the band. The band will see an immediate benefit from this video. But Raul and Monkey&Snake will see the long term benefit. Adding this video to our reels keeps us relevant to a demographic that we must not lose touch with. We deal with corporate accounts that ultimately depend on the very people that watch music videos to purchase their products. We pay attention to trends, fashion, pop culture and art.
Sure in business one must stay relevant, aggressive and farsighted. Doing this video fit the bill, a smart investment in our companies future. So was it worth it? I worked so hard that it took me a few days to recover…and I loved every minute of it. Working with smart ,creative people while doing what you love…
Isn’t that the best reason to go to work?
Shooting a Scion Commercial for Singapore
The thing about working with extremely creative people is that work does not feel like… work.
China’s Specialized
China, the “kingdom of bicycles” has over 500 millions of them, but most are very humble machines. Monkey&Snake is working to change that…
How to sell China in China?
How to sell China in China? A Finnish company has been exactly doing this with the help of Monkey&Snake.
Iittala is a Finnish design company specializing in houseware objects made on the principle of “modern Scandinavian design”.
Born in California.
For the last two years, Monkey & Snake has been successfully introducing Taylor Brothers Farms brand to the Hong Kong and Chinese market. This fall, with the help of Yat Hing Trading, a talented and dynamic local distributor, the world’s best organic prunes and prune products will be on the shelves of the best food [...]
Moving mountains.
We move ideas like others do nails, boric acid or construction equipment. But unlike those, ideas have no volume or weight, but they can displace mountains faster. Ideas are the fuel of modern society, they are an essential part of human development and progress. Ideas are much more than mere commodities. One cannot box an [...]
What we do, where we do.
It is simple, we are where it is important to be. Our office is Shanghai gives us an unique outlook to one of the most dynamic markets in the world.
We are becoming citizens of the world, finding clients, talents and resources.
It’s not about how it used to be but about how it’s going to be.
Designing in California, printing in Germany and shipping to Japan is part of our daily life. That’s what we are.
The question is will you join us to the party?
If this isn’t the Twilight Zone, It must be Poland
As I have mentioned before, we wear many hats here at Monkey and Snake. Ariel and I were in Poland consulting a client and observing their manufacturing facilities.
On our first day here, I noticed that there was black smoke billowing from the windows of many houses. I asked our host what was going on. He said that those people were burning pieces of tires to warm their homes and cook their meals.
Bragging rights
Yes, we do love to brag but after two years we have accomplished our goals. To be one of the most creative agency, to bring in new clients and gain a foothold in Asia. We have been all over Asia in 2010, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Nagano, and more to come. The future is Asian and Monkey&Snake is part of it!
